# subsidiary

/səbˈsɪdiˌɛɹi/ (US) · /sʌbsˈɪdjəɹi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/subsidiary
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. a branch company

noun · CEFR B2

a company that is owned and controlled by another, larger company.

For teachers: a company whose voting stock is more than 50% controlled by another company, known as the parent or holding company.

- The famous car brand is actually a subsidiary of a much larger German group.
- The multinational corporation operates through several local subsidiaries to navigate the specific regulatory requirements of each individual market.

### 2. music/theatre

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a less important part of a piece of music or a story.

For teachers: a subordinate theme or character that supports the primary subject matter.

- The composer introduces a light subsidiary theme halfway through the first movement.
- The analysis focuses on how the subsidiary motifs provide a rhythmic counterpoint to the dominant melodic line throughout the concerto.

### 3. secondary or extra

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

used to describe something that is less important than the main part, or something that provides extra help.

For teachers: functioning in a secondary, subordinate, or supplemental capacity to a primary entity or objective.

- The office has a main heater and a subsidiary one for very cold days.
- The report argued that while the environmental benefits were subsidiary to the economic goals, they were nonetheless significant.

## Examples

- The local car dealership is a subsidiary of a global brand.
- The tech giant acquired the small startup and turned it into a subsidiary to handle its European operations.
- To mitigate financial risk, the parent corporation established a separate subsidiary for its high-stakes research and development projects, ensuring that any potential losses would not bankrupt the entire group.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.